Hicham Matini is a visual artist born in Tahla, Morocco, in 1987, and is currently based in Casablanca. He graduated from the National Institute of Fine Arts in Tetouan in 2014.
Matini’s work delves into the cultural dominance of images and their impact on contemporary public discourse, offering a unique perspective that explores the interplay between specific and global views.
Matini is particularly interested in questions of visual representation related to geopolitical issues.
His research focuses on the hegemony of images and their role in shaping public debate today.
He believes that society is more receptive to cultural transmission when it is presented in a distracting form, aiming to provide deeper insights in an era where the virality of an image often dictates its authenticity.
His work is deeply engaged in offering in-depth interpretations of contemporary issues, challenging the notion that image virality equates to truth.
Matini’s art explores themes such as borders, urban violence, and generational conflicts through various mediums, with painting serving as a "still image" to question the relationship between viewers and media.
By reappropriating popular symbols, he highlights the interaction between tradition and modernity, drawing from the collective imagination to create a dialogue between the two.
Matini has exhibited his work internationally, participating in the 5th Marrakech Biennale, the Museum of New Art (MONA) Armada in Detroit, USA, the Festival of Arts and Music in Tulum, Mexico (2019), the CRUCE Contemporary Art Center in Madrid, Spain (2020), and the ELY Contemporary Art Center in Connecticut, USA (2020).
Through his diverse use of mediums, Matini continues to provoke thought and engage audiences in meaningful discussions about the power and influence of imagery in modern society.
